William temple allen



(No Model.)

W. T. ALLEN, Jr.

I GRAVE FILLER. No. 554,355. Patented Feb. 11, 1896.

"A" him umnlmmmnummn llwrrn VILLIAM TEMPLE ALLEN, J R., OF FORT SMITH, ARKANSAS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO M. KOBER, OF SAME PLACE.

GRAVE-FILLER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 554,356, dated February 1 1, 1896.

' Application filed June 8,1895. Serial No. 552,194. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM TEMPLE AL- LEN, Jr., a citizen of the United States, residing at Fort Smith, in the county of Sebastian and State of Arkansas, have invented a new and useful Grave-Filler, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to that class of appliances used to facilitate the replacement of the excavated soil into graves at the time of burial. In appliances for this purpose as usually provided great difficulty is experienced in the proper manipulation of the same, due primarily to the attention and muscular energy required to properly operate the same without causing any hitch or the possible derangement of the device when in effective service.

The purpose of the present invention is the construction of a simple apparatus for effecting the desired result, and which can be easily operated to bring the earth in proper position for dumping into the grave, and which will operate automatically on the springing or withdrawing of the locking-bolt, so as to deposit the earth upon the casket or case previously lowered into the grave.

The improvement consists essentially of a novel construction of truck-frame, an earthbox journaled thereon in such a manner as to tip automatically and dump the earth into the grave, a locking bolt or bar to retain the earth-box in a normal position, a lock-pin to prevent the accidental displacement of the locking bolt or bar, and an operating-lever for actuating the locking bolt or bar to release the earth-box at the proper moment so as to fill the earth into the grave.

The improvement also consists of the novel features and the peculiar construction and combination of the parts, which hereinafter Will be more fully set forth and claimed, and which are shown in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective View showing the application of the invention, the earth-box being filled and occupying a position so as to dump the earth into the grave' Fig. 2 isa top plan view of the device. Fig. 3 is a detail section 011 the line X X of Fig. 2.

The frame comprises similar side bars 1 and parallel cross-bars 2. The side bars 1 have an offset 3 formed therein at about a middle point, so as to bring the opposite end portions in different relative planes. The parallel cross-bars 2 connect the front portions, 4, of the side bars 1, and are in a higher plane than the rear portions, 5, of the said side bars. The front portion of the frame is provided with an axle 6, which is connected to the front cross-bar 2 in any manner so as to turn to admit of the proper steering or guiding of the apparatus, as will be readily understood.

The ends of the axle 6 are provided with small flan ged wheels 7 of suitable construction and which are adapted to travel upon a track in the operation of the invention. The rear end of the frame is supported upon similar flanged wheels 8, which are mounted upon spindles 9 projecting laterally from the rear ends of the rear portions, 5, of the side bars.

' The earth-box 10 is open at its rear side and is pivotally supported near its front end between the rear portions, 5, of the side bars. The journals or pivots 11 being to one side of the center of the earth-box, the excess of the load occurs upon the rear portion of the said earth-box. Hence the tendency of the load is to tip the eartlrbox and automatically dump the same when it is required to fill the grave.

To prevent the tipping of the earth-box a locking bolt or bar 12 is provided and operates through suitable keepers located upon the cross-bars 2, and the rear end of this lookin g-bar is adapted to extend through an open ing 13 in the front end of the earth-box and projects a sufficient distance beyond the inner side of the front end of the earth-box, so as to receive a locking-pin 14, which is passed through an opening in the projecting end of the locking-bar, and which extends across the opening 13, so as to prevent the accidental withdrawal of the locking-bar and the premature dumping of the earth. This locking-pin 1 1 is connected by a chain 15 to a suitable portion of the earth-box, so as to prevent the losing of the said locking-pin.

A short bar 16 connects the cross-bars 2 at an intermediate point, and an operatin g-leve r 17 is pivotally connected at its lower end to the said bar 16 and passes through an opening in the locking-bar 12, so as to operate the latter when it is required to engage or release the earth-box.

By having the rear portions, 5, of the side bars occurring at a low level the earth-box is brought close to the surface of the ground. Consequently the excavated soil can be quickly and conveniently thrown into the earth-box when excavating the grave.

In using the invention a portable track 18 is provided and extends over the grave and a short distance to one side thereof, and the device is mounted thereon. It must he un derstood that that portion of the track immediately over the grave is separate from that portion located at the side of the grave, so as to be removed when lowering the coffin into the grave, and after the said coffin has been lowered and the cover of the case placed in position the section of track is placed over the grave and caused to register with that portion at the side of the grave, as clearly shown in Fig. 1.

The filling of the grave is effected in the following manner: The loaded earth-box is moved upon the track until it occupies aposition with its rear end proj eeting a short distance beyond the near side of the excavation, after which the locking-pin is withdrawn and the lever 17 actuated so as to withdraw the locking-bar 12 from engagement with the earth-box, when the latter will dump and deposit the earth into the grave, as will be readily understood. WVhen it is required to move the apparatus over the ground, the similar flanged wheels 7 and S are replaced by larger wheels, and a pole or shafts are attached to the front axle in the usual manner for the convenient attachment of a team to the device, by means of which the latter is drawn the same as any ordinary vehicle.

In the embodiment of the invention various changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is- 1. A grave-filler comprising aframe mounted upon supporting-wheels and having rear extensions, an earthbox pivotally supported between the said rear extensions and having the pivots located in front of a middle point of the earth-box, whereby the latter will be actuated by the weight of the load and auto matically dump the earth into the grave, a locking-bar mounted upon the frame and adapted to engage with the earth-box to re tain the latter in a normal position, and alocking-pin for securing the locking-bar against accidental displacement, substantially as specified.

2. The herein-specified grave-filler, comprising similar side bars having offsets about midway of their ends, cross-bars connecting the front portions of the side bars, an axle provided with supporting-wheels and adapted to sustain the front portion of the frame, supporting-wheels for the rear portions of the side bars, an earth-box pivotally supported between the rearportions of the side bars and adapted to operate automatically under the weight of the load so as to dump the earth into the grave, a locking-bar adapted to e11- gage the earth-box and retain the latter in a normal position, a locking-pin to prevent accidental displacement of the locking-bar, and an operating-lever for actuating the lockingbar, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM TEMPLE ALL IN, JR.

Vitnesses GEO. H. LYMAN, II. B. Winn. 

